Can’t Stop Texting While Driving? There’s an App for That!

Hundreds of thousands of people are injured, and thousands killed, by distracted drivers each year. Just last year, nearly 1,500 accidents in Louisiana were caused by distracted drivers using cellphones. Texting while driving is frequently a cause of distracted driving car accidents. Distracted Driving Facts The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 416,000 people were injured and 3,092 were killed in distracted driving accidents in 2010. According to a survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 58 percent of high school seniors, and 43 percent of juniors, admitted to texting or emailing while driving. Texting is so dangerous that it raises the risk of crashing 23 times more than driving without distractions. Dangers of Texting Over the last few years, the government and media have taken special pains to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving, especially texting while driving. Texting carries more risk of crashing because it takes a driver’s eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, which is similar to driving an entire football field blind at 55 miles-per-hour. When drivers are not focused on what is going on around them, they can lose control of their vehicles and tragic accidents can occur, killing or injuring the drivers, passengers and others on or near the roads. Apps to the Rescue While technology like smartphones, GPS systems and entertainment devices account for most of the distractions drivers face while operating their vehicles today, technology in the form of apps can be useful. In response to distracted driving dangers, cellphone applications have been developed to prevent texting while driving. Smartphone “apps” that disable texting have been around for a few years, but have gained popularity and sophistication in recent years. Apps that disable talking or texting when in motion can give parents of teens peace of mind and help those who manage commercial fleets ensure drivers comply with texting laws. These apps have their limitations, however, and do not work on all phones or in all scenarios. While this technology may help parents and commercial truck companies prevent texting while driving, it is not a foolproof solution. If you or a loved one are injured in a distracted driving accident, contact a personal injury attorney for advice about your legal rights and options for compensation.